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Julie's Serving Tray Mat

This serving tray mat is designed to fit the serving trays found at fast food restaurants. The trays can be purchased on Amazon.com. The pattern stitch is based on the Wheatsheaf stitch in the 1986-1992 version of the "Harmony Guide to Crocheting" pg 51.

Materials Needed

3oz Worsted Weight Cotton Yarn in color of choice.
Size H/8 or 5mm aluminum crochet hook
Yarn Needle to weave in ends

Yarn Thickness: 3mm
Gauge: 5dc =1"
Finished Size: 13" x 9-1/2"
Skill Level: Intermediate

Instructions
ROW 1: Ch37. Sc in 2nd ch from hook. Sc in next ch. *Ch3. Sk 2 chs. Sc in each of the next 3 chs. Rep from * to end. You will have only 2 sc at the end. Ch1, turn.

ROW 2: Sc in first sc. *5dc in next ch3 sp. Sk next sc. Sc in next sc. Rep from * across. Ch3, turn.

ROW 3: Sk next dc. Sc in each of the next 3 dc. *Ch3. Sk 3 sts. Sc in each of the next 3 dc. Rep from * 5 times more. Ch1. Hdc in last sc. Ch3, turn.

ROW 4: 2dc in first chsp. Sk next sc. Sc in next sc. *5dc in next ch3 sp. Sk next sc. Sc in next sc. Rep from * 6 times more. Sk next sc. Sk next sc. 2dc in next sp. Sc in the 2dc of the ch3 sp of previous ROW. Ch1, turn.

ROW 5: Sc in each of the first 2dc. *Ch3. Sk 3 sts. Sc in each of the next 3dc. Rep from * 6 times more. Ch3. Sk next 3 sts. Sc in next dc and in top of ch3. Ch1, turn.

ROW 6-18: Repeat Rows 2-5, 3 times more.

ROW 19+20: Rep Row 2 and 3. Make sure to turn your work at the end of ROW 20.

Perimeter Now you will work in the round for 2 rounds.
RND 1: Sc in first sc. 2sc in first sp. Sc in each of the next 3 sc, 3sc in next ch3 sp, 6 times. Sc in each of the next 3 sc. 5 sc in next corner sp. Work 22 sc down the left side evenly spaced. Work 5 sc in next corner sp. Work 3sc in next ch2 sp of row 1, sc in each of the next 3 sc, 6 times. 3sc in next ch3 sp. 5sc in next corner st. Work 22 sc up right side evenly spaced. 3sc in same corner space as you started this round in. Join w/slst to first sc.

RND 2: Ch3, dc in same st as slst. Dc in each of the next 41 sts. 2dc in each of the next 3 dc which should be the center 3 of the 5dcs in the corner. Dc in each of the next 24 sc. 2dc in each of the next 3 corner scs. Dc in each of the next 41 sts. 2dc in each of the next 3 sc. Dc in each of the next 24 sc. 2dc in each of the last 2 sc. Join w/slst to top of ch3.

RND 3: Ch1. Slst in each st around. Join w/slst to first slst. Fasten off and weave ends into back of work.

The Story About the Red Tray!
My grandparents used to own a small restaurant called the Schuss Cafe which was at the base lodge of Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine. They owned the restaurant in the 50's 60's and sold it in the 70's. Both of my parents and several of my family members over the years worked in the cafe including me back in February 1983. It has since closed and went through various changes but there are still parts of the cafe that hint of what was there so long ago. Anyway, the tray in the photo is one that I got from that restaurant my grandmother saved after she sold it. It is made from a very heavy plastic, not like they are made today. Back then they were made to last! The tray must be about 50+ years old! Today, I actually use the tray almost on a daily basis to carry my lunch and snacks to my office, in the basement, from my kitchen. I wanted a crocheted mat, instead of using pot holders on it, to keep my dishes from slipping. This is what I came up with!